5 Photogenic Buildings and Townscapes in Toyama

Toyama Prefecture is not just about the majestic nature of the Tateyama mountain range. It is a treasure trove dotted with "photogenic spots" that make you want to turn your camera toward them, from historic castles and Western-style mansions to nostalgic townscapes. This time, we carefully select and introduce five Toyama buildings and townscapes that will gather "likes" on Instagram without you even thinking.

01 | Toyama Castle (Toyama Municipal Folk Museum)

Toyama Castle is beautiful, with the contrast woven from the white keep and the water surface of the moat. In spring, the collaboration with the cherry blossoms is spectacular, and the combination of pink and white is just like a painting. If you aim for the "upside-down castle" mirrored on the moat's surface, the windless hours of the morning are best. Setting up low, right at the water's surface from a low angle, finishes into a fantastical shot.

Access: about a 10-minute walk from JR Toyama Station

02 | Iwase Kaisen-donya Merchant Street

The Iwase district flourished through the trade of the Kitamae-bune ships in the Edo to Meiji eras. The stone-paved alleys where weighty wooden townhouses line up are full of a time-travel feel. The moment when the orange light at dusk hits the wooden lattice windows is a breathtaking beauty. Shooting in a vertical composition toward the back of the alley lets you take a photogenic photo with depth.

Access: about a 10-minute walk from Toyama Chiho Railway's Higashi-Iwase Station

03 | Former Toyama Prefectural Government Building (Toyama City Hall Observation Tower Area)

The former Toyama Prefectural Government Building, built in the Taisho era in the Renaissance style, is charming retro architecture with cream-colored outer walls and a red roof. A head-on, drawn-in shot capturing the whole against a blue-sky background is the standard. In autumn, the surrounding ginkgo trees are dyed golden, raising the European-style atmosphere even more.

Access: about a 15-minute walk from JR Toyama Station

04 | Zuiryuji Temple (Takaoka City)

The family temple of the Kaga clan, designated a national treasure. The monotone beauty of white walls and black roof tiles, and the symmetrically arranged temple layout, radiate an overwhelming presence. Autumn to winter, when the morning mist hangs low, is especially mystical. By treating the temple gate as a picture frame and aiming for the Buddha hall in the back with a "framing composition," you can express a dignified Japanese beauty.

Access: about a 10-minute walk from JR Takaoka Station

05 | Kanayamachi (Takaoka City)

A town of casting metalworkers with over 400 years of history. The sight of senbon-goshi (thousand-slat) townhouses lined up along stone-paved lanes is truly a "living Important Cultural Property." On cloudy days, shadows are less likely to appear, so you can capture even the fine details of the lattices delicately; this is recommended. Resting your hand on the lattice to take a portrait is also popular, and a stylish outfit looks great within the retro world.

Access: about a 5-minute walk from the Manyosen's Sakashitamachi stop

Toyama's buildings and townscapes are somehow nostalgic, yet fresh. Each time you carefully frame them one by one, you become aware of the depth of this town. By all means take your camera and head out to search for your very own "photogenic" moment.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: The cherry blossoms at Toyama Castle are usually at their best in early April. The townhouses of Iwase and Kanaya-machi are easiest to shoot under the soft light of a cloudy day or in the evening, while Zuiryuji Temple is best in the morning just after the gates open.
• Opening hours / closed days: The Toyama Municipal Folk Museum (Toyama Castle) is open 9:00 to 17:00 (until 17:30 in some seasons) and closed over the New Year period. Zuiryuji Temple is open for visits 9:00 to 16:30 (until 16:00 in December and January). The observation tower of Toyama City Hall is open 9:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 21:00 at weekends and on public holidays from April to October, and 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends and on public holidays from November to March, closing over the New Year period.
• Fees: The Toyama Municipal Folk Museum is 210 yen for adults and free for high school students and younger. Admission to Zuiryuji Temple is 500 yen. The observation tower of Toyama City Hall is free of charge. Viewing the interior of the Mori Residence in Iwase (a nationally designated Important Cultural Property) is subject to a fee.
• Access: Toyama Castle, the main building of the Toyama Prefectural Government Office and the Toyama City Hall observation tower are all within about 15 minutes on foot from JR Toyama Station. Iwase is about 10 minutes on foot from the Higashi-Iwase tram stop on the Toyama Chiho Railway Toyamako Line. Zuiryuji Temple is about 10 minutes on foot from JR Takaoka Station, and Kanaya-machi about 10 minutes on foot from the Kataharamachi or Sakashitamachi tram stop on the Manyosen line.
• Parking: Each facility and district has parking, but the number of spaces and the charges vary. The streets of Kanaya-machi and Iwase are narrow and used by residents in daily life, so use the designated car parks and never park on the street.
• Photography rules: The Toyama Prefectural Government Office is a working government building. Refrain from photographing the interior or taking shots in which staff or visitors appear. Kanaya-machi and Iwase are living places lined with houses and workshops still in use, so be considerate: do not enter private property, do not photograph interiors through windows, and do not make a lot of noise. For whether photography is allowed inside the halls or of the Buddhist statues at Zuiryuji Temple, and for the use of tripods, follow the on-site notices and the temple's instructions.
• Safety notes: In winter there is snow and the road surface freezes, and stone paving and stone steps become extremely slippery. If you visit in winter, wear non-slip shoes. The alleys between the townhouses are narrow and cars use them too, so standing in the middle of the road to take photographs is dangerous.

*Admission fees, opening hours and closed days are subject to change. Please check the official website of each facility for the latest information before your visit.

(Sources: official website of Toyama City / Toyama Municipal Folk Museum; official website of Toyama Prefecture (list of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties); official Takaoka City tourism website "Takaoka Kanko Navi"; official Toyama Prefecture tourism website "Toyama Kanko Navi"; Toyama City Tourism Association)